Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Nicci Finazzo file photo
Jose Nogueras - ONU
61
Winner John Carroll JCU 4-0,0-0 NCAC
41
Carnegie Mellon CMU 1-1,0-0 UAA
Winner
John Carroll JCU
4-0,0-0 NCAC
61
Final
41
Carnegie Mellon CMU
1-1,0-0 UAA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
John Carroll JCU 14 15 11 21 61
Carnegie Mellon CMU 15 6 10 10 41

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Joe Ginley '16, SID

In Top 25 Battle, Women's Basketball Topples Tartans in Pittsburgh

The Blue Streaks dominated defensively in a strong early-season victory

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – The first test of the campaign arrived on Friday for John Carroll Women's Basketball.

A surprise pick in the preseason D3hoops.com poll at #14, the Blue Streaks faced an early-season test in Carnegie Mellon University, as the Tartans checked in at #17 in the same poll.

The Blue Streaks looked every bit as good as the ranking, steamrolling Carnegie Mellon with suffocating defense in a 61-41 victory. All the more impressive considering the fact that the Tartans sported an 11-1 home record last season.

The teams played an even first quarter, as CMU stood ahead narrowly, 15-14, after the opening 10 minutes. After a Tartan jumper to start the second, JCU dominated the remainder of the quarter.

Ava Ryncarz powered the beginning of a run with a triple, while Katie Puletti's 3-pointer also aided the effort. JCU rolled for an 11-0 run in the final six minutes of the half, standing ahead by eight points entering the break. 

An early third-quarter Carly Perusek layup upped the lead to double digits, and away the Blue Streaks went. A second Puletti triple kept JCU in control. JCU stood ahead by nine heading into the fourth, 40-31.  

A strict JCU defense opened space for the Blue Streaks to add to the advantage at the start of the fourth. Nicci Finazzo hit back-to-back layups for starters and Graci Semptimphelter nailed a triple to up the lead to 16 points with 8:11 to play. The Tartans never again threatened. 

JCU's lockdown defense proved to be the defense, as the Tartans never seemed comfortable. A whopping 48-34 advantage in rebounds for JCU tells the tale. The visitors nabbed 18 offensive boards, leading to 19 second-chance points. 

The Blue Streaks stood in the lead for 25 minutes in what was a truly impressive top-25 win. 

Nicci Finazzo led all scorers with 12 points. Ava Ryncarz contributed a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Both Carly Perusek and Kaylie McKenney tabbed 9 rebounds. 

Next Up
John Carroll will be back at home again on Wednesday, hosting the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center at 6 pm. 
Print Friendly Version

Sponsors